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IELTS Writing Samples

IELTS essay samples (writing task 2), report and letter samples (writing task 1) with Band Scores, marked by IELTS teachers, including comments and suggestions on how to increase your score

IELTS Letter, topic: Complaining about rubbish collection services

This is a model response to a Writing Task 1 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.

Set 1 General Training book, Practice Test 4

Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You and your neighbours have noticed that the rubbish collection services where you live have recently been quite bad.

Write a letter to your local council. In your letter,

– explain what you have recently experienced
– explain what the neighbours have recently experienced
– ask what action will be taken to improve the service

You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir / Madam,

Sample Band 9 Letter

Dear Sir / Madam,

My name is Amanda Rosewell and I am a resident of the city of Harpley. I am writing this letter in my name and on behalf of my neighbours on Bristwood Avenue, as we have experienced very poor rubbish collection services recently.

For around three months, the trash I put out at my gate on the correct day is only collected irregularly, and when it is, some is left behind. My neighbours have had similar experiences, if not worse, with one woman not having her rubbish collected for eight weeks and another family dealing with unfriendly and incompetent rubbish collectors. Apparently, their waste container was broken by the harsh handling of the collectors, and the family’s children have been scared by their unfriendly comments.

Although I have called the rubbish collection service hotline, the company’s employees have not taken my complaint seriously and nothing has changed the current situation. I would therefore like to ask what you as the local city council can do in order to improve this state of affairs, as the rubbish collection services do not react to any feedback from dissatisfied citizens.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Amanda Rosewell

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IELTS essay, topic: Should boys and girls be educated separately (opinion)?

This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.

Set 4 Academic book, Practice Test 19

Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In some countries, boys and girls are educated separately after the age of about ten years old. Discuss this view and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

You should write at least 250 words.

Sample Band 9 Essay

In many countries around the world, boys and girls are educated together. There is a group of countries, however, that educate boys and girls separately. This is frequently done on religious grounds, but not always. Having such a system can produce various advantages and disadvantages.

One of the principal reasons for educating boys and girls separately is that, if they are together, they can distract each other. After puberty, boys can be strongly attracted to girls and vice versa, and this can result in disruptive conduct in the classroom as, for example, they show off to one another. Separating boys and girls can therefore have the distinct advantage of reducing this disturbing behaviour. However, some teachers have pointed out that this model does not always work, and that separated boys and girls are equally disruptive in class, and sometimes more so. These teachers say that having the opposite sex in the classroom can actually improve behaviour.

Many educators also believe that boys and girls have different learning styles and needs. Separating boys and girls can allow teachers to address these needs more easily. There is also a belief that single sex schools allow gender stereotypes to be challenged and therefore education aspirations can be broadened.

A major disadvantage of separating boys and girls in education is that the children miss important formative behavioural development when they do not have interaction with the other gender on a regular basis. This can lead to shyness and, more seriously, dysfunctional relationships later in life. Some people also feel that mixed sex schools can promote gender stereotypes rather than reducing them.

In conclusion, I feel that children should be educated all together, although I would respect a system in which they are separated due to religious beliefs. My personal opinion is that different genders should learn to interact together from an early age, as this would allow them to develop healthy working relationships with each other.

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